PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Abdur Rahman Hodges (ranked 6451 p4p, 502 weight class) and Amir Topal (ranked 24847 p4p, 540 weight class). Amir Topal will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Rahman Hodges
vs
Topal

170 cm
18
158 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Abdur Rahman Hodges!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Amir Topal!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Columbo Gatti and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Topal.

Hodges drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Topal has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Hodges has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Topal gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Hodges makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hodges will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Hodges closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Topal is trying to control Hodges's posture but Hodges avoids it.

Hodges is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Topal knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Hodges is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Topal has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hodges working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hodges looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Topal is avoiding damage well.
Topal is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hodges has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hodges is chipping away with strikes.
Topal is looking to regain half guard here but Hodges keeps moving and retains side control.
Topal managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Hodges.
Hodges has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Hodges is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Topal is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Hodges wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Topal, who protects the arm well.

Hodges tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Topal tries to buck Hodges off but Hodges is having none of it.
Topal is not content to let Hodges control the position.
Topal trying to remain calm as Hodges controls from the top position.
Topal is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Hodges tries for a kimura but Topal is defending well.
Hodges works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hodges advances to mount.

Hodges has control of Topal's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Topal regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Hodges looking for a guillotine from mount but Topal is having none of it.
Hodges forces the positional change into back control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdur Rahman Hodges dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Hodges misses with a looping left.
Topal wants to clinch.
It looked like Hodges was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Hodges has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Topal closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hodges is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Topal's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Topal's back!
Topal avoids the strikes from Hodges.

Hodges is persistently looking for the submission but Topal is defending it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hodges is not going to allow Topal to sit and survive in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hodges is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Topal has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Topal wants to escape the position.

Hodges is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Topal with him. Topal is trying to defend but Hodges has an arm under the chin now! Topal grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Abdur Rahman Hodges!